The Effect of Wii Training on Neurocognitive Function in Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability: Matched Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Many studies have investigated ankle sprain injury and it has been reported that in 80% of cases, ankle sprains lead to functional ankle instability (FAI). The conventional exercises for FAI rehabilitation neglect the associated neurocognitive dysfunction. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of Wii Fit Plus as a virtual reality training on neurocognitive function in athletes with FAI compared to athletes without FAI. Material and Methods: In this matched randomized clinical trial study, 25 athletes with unilateral FAI and 25 athletes without FAI were assigned to two groups randomly: 1) the intervention group, subjects performed the Wii training including balance and strengthening games three times a week for 12 sessions and 2) subjects in the control group received no intervention. Before and after the training, the neurocognitive function was assessed through the computerized-reaction time test based on the detection or identification of 'X' mark on a computer monitor. Between-groups and within-group comparisons were done by the independent T-test and paired T-test, respectively. Results: A significant difference was observed in mean differences of neurocognitive function between athletes with and without FAI. Comprising before and after training was significant in the intervention group. Conclusion: Based on the results, the information-processing speed of athletes with FAI increased after the training, utilized for rehabilitation protocols.

The potential protective effect of melatonin and N-acetylcysteine alone and in combination on opioid-induced testicular dysfunction and degeneration in rat.

Methadone (Met) is the most common treatment for opioid addiction. Although Met is effective for treatment of opioid dependence, sexual dysfunctions and infertility have been reported as a major problem in patients under Met treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of melatonin and N-acetylcysteine (N) on morphine and Met-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, suppression of blood sexual hormones, impairment in sperm parameters, and sexual dysfunction. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 66) were randomly divided into 11 equal groups (n = 6) as follows: control, sham, morphine, Met, Met+N, Met+ melatonin, Met+melatonin+N, morphine+ Met, morphine+Met+ melatonin, morphine+Met+N, and morphine+Met+ melatonin+N groups. On day 56 post-treatment, the blood was collected from the tail and the serum levels of sex hormones were evaluated, then the rats were sacrificed, and their bilateral testes and epididymis were retrieved for histological, immunohistochemical, molecular, testicular tissue stress oxidative status, and sperm parameters assays. Exposure to morphine, Met, and shift of morphine to Met resulted in testicular degeneration that can be attributed to generating the stress oxidative-induced- apoptotic testicular cell death and impairing spermatogenesis. Melatonin and N alone and particularly, in combination with each other improved testicular degeneration, sex hormone suppression, and testicular function mediated by increasing the testicular antioxidant capacity and inhibition of the apoptosis pathway. It's suggested that oral administration of antioxidants may be an effective treatment for attenuating some opioid-related testicular dysfunction and degeneration.

Compare the Effect of Traditional and Virtual Reality Training on Subjective-sense of Instability and Balance in Basketball-players with Functional Ankle Instability: Matched Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a common injury. Traditional training improved the reported balance impairment and subjective sense of instability in athletes with FAI. Objective: This study aims to compare the effects of traditional and virtual reality training on a subjective sense of instability and balance in athlete with FAI. Material and Methods: In this single-blinded matched randomized clinical trial design, Fifty-four basketball players were randomly assigned in the virtual reality (n=27) or control (n=27) groups. All athletes performed 12 sessions Wii exercises or traditional training in the virtual reality and the control group, respectively, for three days a week. To assess the subjective-sense of instability and balance, we used Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), respectively. Measures were taken at pre- and post-test and one month after training as a follow-up. The between-group comparisons were done by the analysis of Covariance. Results: At the pre-test, the CAIT score was 22.37, 22.04 in the control and virtual reality groups, respectively and at the post-test, these scores increased to 26.63, 27.26. The involved limb showed significant differences in posteromedial and posterior directions of the SEBT and CAIT score in the post-test and in the posterior direction and CAIT score in the follow-up. The virtual reality group had better performance than the control group but the effect size is small (cohen's d<0.2). Conclusion: Based on our results, both training protocols were effective in reducing the subjective-sense of instability and improved balance in athletes with FAI. Moreover, virtual reality training was very attractive for the participants.

Mesenchymal stem cells act as stimulators of neurogenesis and synaptic function in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common NDs leading to cognitive dysfunctions and dementia which are progressively worsen with age. Cell therapy is currently of particular interest in treatment of neurodegenerative disease (ND) such as AD. However, the effective treatment for AD is yet to be found. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the possible roles of human umbilical mesnchymal stromal cord (hUMSCs) and adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) in neurogenesis and synaptic function were investigated using a ß-amyloid 1-42 (ß A42)-induced AD rat model. METHODS: hUMSCs and hAD-MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord stroma and adipose tissue, respectively. The expression of Mesenchymal (CD73, CD90 and CD105) and hematopoietic (CD45 and CD133) markers of hUMSCs and hAD-MSCs were confirmed by flow cytometry. Alzheimer's rat model was created by ß-amyloid 1-42 injection into the hippocampus and confirmed by Morris Water Maze and immunohistochemical staining. hUMSCs and hAD-MSCs were injected in Alzheimer's rat model, intravenously. Deposition of ß-amyloid in the CA1 of hippocampus was assayed 3 months after cell administration. The expression of synaptophysin and GAP43 proteins was assessed by Western blot. Neural death was assessed by Nissl staining. RESULTS: The data obtained from flow cytometry showed that surface mesenchymal and hematopoteic markers of the fibroblastic like cells isolated from adipose tissue and umbilical cord were expressed highly in hUMSCs and mostly in hAD-SCs. Transplantation of MSCs reduced ß-amyloid deposition in the hippocampus of the AD rats compared to the ß-amyloid group. The rate of neuronal cell death in the hippocampus of the ß-amyloid-treated rats was significantly increased compared to that of the control group. The percentage of apoptotic cells in this group was 72.98 ± 1.25, which was significantly increased compared to the control group. Transplantation of either hUMSCs or hAD-SCs, respectively, resulted in a significant reduction in the apoptotic rate of the neuronal cells in the hippocampus by 39.47 ± 0.01 (p = 0.0001) and 43.23 ± 0.577 (p = 0.001) compared to the ß-amyloid group. MSC transplantation resulted in a significant up-regulation in the expression levels of both synaptogenic (synaptophysin) and neurogenic markers (GAP43) by 1.289 ± 0.112 (P = 0.02) and 1.112 ± 0.106 (P = 0.005) fold in the hUMSCs-treated group and 1.174 ± 0.105 (P = 0.04) and 0.978 ± 0.167 (P = 0.008) fold in the hAD-SCs-treated group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intravenous injection of hUMSCs and hAD-MSCs is a safe approach that improves synaptic function and neurogenesis via up-regulation of synaptophysin and GAP43 protein expression levels, respectively, in Alzheimer's model. Intravenous injection of both applied SCs could improve learning and cognitive impairment induced by ß A42 injection.

The Novel Drug Discovery to Combat COVID-19 by Repressing Important Virus Proteins Involved in Pathogenesis Using Medicinal Herbal Compounds.

BACKGROUND: The cause of COVID-19 global pandemic is SARS-CoV-2. Given the outbreak of this disease, it is so important to find a treatment. One strategy to cope with COVID-19 is to use the active ingredients of medicinal plants. In this study, the effect of active substances was surveyed in inhibiting four important druggable targets, including S protein, 3CLpro, RdRp, and N protein. RdRp controls the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and is crucial for its life cycle. 3CLpro is the main protease of the virus and could be another therapeutic target. Moreover, N protein and S protein are responsible for SARS-CoV-2 assembly and attaching, respectively. METHODS: The 3D structures of herbal active ingredients were prepared and docked with the mentioned SARS-CoV-2 proteins to obtain their affinity. Then, available antiviral drugs introduced in other investigations were docked using similar tools and compared with the results of this study. Finally, other properties of natural compounds were uncovered for drug designing. RESULTS: The outcomes of the study revealed that Linarin, Amentoflavone, (-)-Catechin Gallate and Hypericin from Chrysanthemum morifolium, Hypericum perforatum, Humulus lupulus, and Hibiscus sabdariffa had the highest affinity for these basic proteins and in some cases, their affinity was much higher than antiviral medicines. CONCLUSION: In addition to having high affinity, these herb active ingredients have antioxidant, vasoprotective, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral properties. Therefore, they can be used as extremely safe therapeutic compounds in drug design studies to control COVID-19.

Comparison of the effects of Wii and conventional training on functional abilities and neurocognitive function in basketball-players with functional ankle instability: Matched randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of Wii and conventional training on functional abilities and neurocognitive function in basketball-players with Functional Ankle Instability (FAI). DESIGN: Single-blind matched randomized clinical trial study. SETTING: Outpatients setting. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-four basketball-players were randomly assigned to the Wii and control group. INTERVENTIONS: All athletes in the Wii group (n = 27) performed Wii Fit Plus games; and in the control group (n = 27), they performed conventional training three days a week for 12 sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To assess functional performance and neurocognitive function, we used hop tests (8-hop, side hop, and single hop) and Deary-Liewald Reaction Time Task (DLRT), respectively. DLRT measured simple and choice reaction time and error rate. Measures were taken at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks after baseline. RESULTS: In all 54 athletes completed the study. The results showed no significant differences for all hop tests in between-group comparison but the neurocognitive function showed significant improvements in the Wii group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Mean (SD) for 8-hop and side hop tests for the involved limb, and simple and choice reaction time four weeks after baseline in the control group were 10.15 (1.02), 12.36 (1.31), and 339.10 (41.57), 530.52 (53.36), respectively and in the Wii group, were 10.46 (1.23), 12.40 (1.31), and 295.25 (13.16), 431.19 (33.46), respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, both training protocols were equal to positively affect functional abilities. Besides, Wii training improved neurocognitive function and can be applied in FAI rehabilitation protocols.

Predicted therapeutic targets for COVID-19 disease by inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 and its related receptors.

The SARS-CoV-2 causes severe pulmonary infectious disease with an exponential spread-ability. In the present research, we have tried to look into the molecular cause of disease, dealing with the development and spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, different approaches have investigated against disease development and infection in this research; First, We identified hsa-miR-1307-3p out of 1872 pooled microRNAs, as the best miRNA, with the highest affinity to SARS-CoV-2 genome and its related cell signaling pathways. Second, the findings presented that this miRNA had a considerable role in PI3K/Act, endocytosis, and type 2 diabetes, moreover, it may play a critical role in the prevention of GRP78 production and the virus entering, proliferation and development. Third, nearly 1033 medicinal herbal compounds were collected and docked with ACE2, TMPRSS2, GRP78, and AT1R receptors, which were the most noticeable receptors in causing the COVID-19. Among them, there were three common compounds including berbamine, hypericin, and hesperidin, which were more effective and appropriate to prevent the COVID-19 infection. Also, it was revealed some of these chemical compounds which had a greater affinity for AT1R receptor inhibitors can be suitable therapeutic targets for inhibiting AT1R and preventing the adverse side effects of this receptor. According to the result, clinical assessment of these three herbal compounds and hsa-miR-1307-3p may have significant outcomes for the prevention, control, and treatment of COVID-19 infection.

Preventive Effects of Duloxetine Against Methamphetamine Induced Neurodegeneration and Motor Activity Disorder in Rat: Possible Role of CREB/BDNF Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: The neuroprotective effects of duloxetine and neurodegenerative effects of methamphetamine have been shown in previous studies, but their exact mechanism remain unclear. In the current study it involved molecular mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of duloxetine against methamphetamine induced neurodegeneration were clarified. METHODS: About 40 adult male rats randomly were divided to 5 groups. Group 1 and 2, as control and methamphetamine treated, received normal saline and methamphetamine (10 mg/kg) respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 concurrently treated with methamphetamine and duloxetine at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg respectively. All treatments were undertaken for 21 days. On day 22 Open Field Test (OFT) were used to examine the level of motor activity disturbance and anxiety in animals. After that hippocampus was isolated from each rat and oxidative, antioxidant, inflammatory factors and also level or expression of total and phosphorylated forms of CREB and P-CREB and BDNF proteins were measured. RESULTS: Duloxetine in all mentioned doses could inhibit the effects of methamphetamine induced motor activity disturbance in MWM. Chronic abuse of methamphetamine could increase malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and interleukine-1beta (IL-1ß) while caused decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities and decreased CREB (both forms) and BDNF proteins, while duloxetine could prevent these malicious effects of methamphetamine. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that P-CREB/BDNF signaling pathways might have critical role in duloxetine neuroprotective effects against methamphetamine induced neurodegeneration.

Effects of Topical Phenytoin Cream on Episiotomy Repair in Primiparous Women: A Double Blind Clinical Trial.

Episiotomy is the most prevalent obstetrical procedure with the purpose of either widening vaginal outlet or helping the fetus to deliver as soon as possible with the most feto-maternal safety. The aim of this study is to find out the effects of topical phenytoin cream on wound repair in primiparous women. One-hundred-thirty primiparous mothers were referred to Kowsar Hospital in Qazvin province participated in this clinical trial. Sixty-five participants were assigned in each of intervention and control groups. The intervention group was treated with topical 1% Phenytoin cream and 10% povidone-iodine (betadine) solution and the control group received placebo and betadine solution. Wound irrigation with betadine was performed as the routine order in the hospital, three times daily and two centimeters of topical phenytoin or placebo cream, were applied to the wound twice daily. The rate of episiotomy repair was measured by REEDA index in the first 24 h, the fifth and the tenth puerperal day. Data analyses were done t-test and chi-square test and Mann-Whitney. In the first 24 h, it was 6.43 ± 2.15 in the intervention group versus 6.52 ± 5.09 in the control group with no significant difference. However on The 5th day, it appeared 4.56 ± 3.01 in the intervention group versus 6.54 ± 2.98 in the control group (p < 0.001), likewise it was 5.82 ± 2.83 in the control group on the tenth day (p < 0.001). Significant difference was detected both in the 5th and 10th postpartum days. The result of this trial suggested that 1% phenytoin cream speeds-up the wound healing process; therefore it could be applied for accelerating episiotomy repair.